GPS antennea seems to die, is this typical of inexpensive units?

[cernese]

I've been running a "blue" system since the fall of 2017! 
At the end of last month, near end-October-2022, I get a startup sequence where the GPS unit responds and then dies.
First 1 satellite and a few seconds later, a 2nd satellite, and then it stops responding completely.

It was an inexpensive "active antenna 28dB Gain, 3-5VDC, SMA connector" widget and I'm going to order a replacement unit, any suggestions or should I just pick what I find in amazon.com ?

Thanks,
Dan

[cutty]

I've been running a "blue" system since the fall of 2017! 
At the end of last month, near end-October-2022, I get a startup sequence where the GPS unit responds and then dies.
First 1 satellite and a few seconds later, a 2nd satellite, and then it stops responding completely.

It was an inexpensive "active antenna 28dB Gain, 3-5VDC, SMA connector" widget and I'm going to order a replacement unit, any suggestions or should I just pick what I find in amazon.com ?

Thanks,
Dan

Hi Dan... have you seen this thread???
https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=3648
Mike

[cernese]

Hi Dan... have you seen this thread???
https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=3648
Mike

No, I had not!  Well that's interesting.

[cernese]

I've been running a "blue" system since the fall of 2017! 
At the end of last month, near end-October-2022, I get a startup sequence where the GPS unit responds and then dies.
First 1 satellite and a few seconds later, a 2nd satellite, and then it stops responding completely.

It was an inexpensive "active antenna 28dB Gain, 3-5VDC, SMA connector" widget and I'm going to order a replacement unit, any suggestions or should I just pick what I find in amazon.com ?

Thanks,
Dan

Hi Dan... have you seen this thread???
https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=3648
Mike

I updated the firmware, a voila!  It works again!

Note to others:  I have Windows 10, I mistakenly tried the Windows 8 driver, no go (even though the virtual COM3 port shows up).  Installed Windows 7 driver, that worked.

However, the flash either reports no com ports or failed to enumerate com potrs-- so I edited the .ini file and changed it from 1 to 3 (my device manager shows it as COM3), and it worked first time!

[allsorts]

Wish I could say the same.

Just spent all evening doing battle with virtual com ports and PowerFlash. Got a virtual com port that I can see data from the GPS module with PuTTY and can switch that data flow on and off via the web interface of the receiver. But PowerFlash only finds "real" com ports, yes I have tried editing the .ini ComSelect=1, to 3. Shuffling the "real" port off COM1 to COM2 (which PowerFlash finds) and the virtual one to COM1 (with ComSelect=1,) to no avail.

Virtual com port from https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/pro...32102.html both Win7 and Win8 (64bit) tried with/without the relevant compatibilty mode set on PowerFlash.

PowerFlash v1.2.3 [for customer].

Win10 LTSC but as PuTTY can see data from the GPS over the virtual com port that bit appears to be working and it's a PowerFlash problem.

With 9.4 in the blitzortung receiver am I wasting my time trying to get the GPS firmware updated?

[nerd65]

I think, at the end of the day, if you've installed firmware 9.4 in the unit and it's working as expected then that's all you need to do.  It would be nice to update the GPS firmware as well but I wouldn't get too stressed over it unless you want to also use the unit as a NTP time server.  For me, I've installed firmware 9.4 and the unit is working fine.  If the fancy takes me I'll have a go at the GPS as well but I don't see it as a priority.

[allsorts]

I think, at the end of the day, if you've installed firmware 9.4 in the unit and it's working as expected then that's all you need to do.  It would be nice to update the GPS firmware as well but I wouldn't get too stressed over it unless you want to also use the unit as a NTP time server.  For me, I've installed firmware 9.4 and the unit is working fine.  If the fancy takes me I'll have a go at the GPS as well but I don't see it as a priority.

Ta, I have installed 9.4, it boots and I can see the web interface but it's only got power and network connected, as it is removed from its normal home to access the USB port.

As the root cause of the problem is the GPS I'd like to sort that out so it's correct. I don't use the NTP feature but I might in the future. Fair chance I'll have forgotten about this issue by then... Don't really like having the receivers firmware tweaked to "correct" it either but that's now done and 9.4 has some other tidying up as well.

Pragmatically, return it to its home, check it's working properly and let it get on with it...

[kd5byb]

Just updated station 1653 to firmware 9.4 to fix the GPS issue. All seems to be working well now.

thanks,
ben, kd5byb

[bogdan]

I've been running a "blue" system since the fall of 2017! 
At the end of last month, near end-October-2022, I get a startup sequence where the GPS unit responds and then dies.
First 1 satellite and a few seconds later, a 2nd satellite, and then it stops responding completely.

It was an inexpensive "active antenna 28dB Gain, 3-5VDC, SMA connector" widget and I'm going to order a replacement unit, any suggestions or should I just pick what I find in amazon.com ?

Thanks,
Dan

Hi Dan... have you seen this thread???
https://forum.blitzortung.org/showthread.php?tid=3648
Mike

Hi Mike,

I can't access that thread. I had the same GPS problem and I just updated the firmware to fix it, but I had to find that information elsewhere on the forum. Is there anything I need to do to get access to the thread you mentioned?

Thanks,
Bogdan

[cutty]

Hi Mike,

I can't access that thread. I had the same GPS problem and I just updated the firmware to fix it, but I had to find that information elsewhere on the forum. Is there anything I need to do to get access to the thread you mentioned?

Thanks,
Bogdan

What's your station number?

[bogdan]

Hi Mike,

I can't access that thread. I had the same GPS problem and I just updated the firmware to fix it, but I had to find that information elsewhere on the forum. Is there anything I need to do to get access to the thread you mentioned?

Thanks,
Bogdan

What's your station number?

I have two: 1918 and 2484.

[cutty]

Hi Mike,

I can't access that thread. I had the same GPS problem and I just updated the firmware to fix it, but I had to find that information elsewhere on the forum. Is there anything I need to do to get access to the thread you mentioned?

Thanks,
Bogdan

What's your station number?

I have two: 1918 and 2484.

Upgraded your access!
Cheers!

[bogdan]

Hi Mike,

I can't access that thread. I had the same GPS problem and I just updated the firmware to fix it, but I had to find that information elsewhere on the forum. Is there anything I need to do to get access to the thread you mentioned?

Thanks,
Bogdan

What's your station number?

I have two: 1918 and 2484.

Upgraded your access!
Cheers!

Thank you, it is working now!

[StuartS]

Hi Mike,

I can't access that thread. I had the same GPS problem and I just updated the firmware to fix it, but I had to find that information elsewhere on the forum. Is there anything I need to do to get access to the thread you mentioned?

Thanks,
Bogdan

What's your station number?

I have two: 1918 and 2484.

Upgraded your access!
Cheers!

Thank you, it is working now!

May I ask that you also upgrade access for my station 1782.  

Thank you!
T782

[Taftse]

What's your station number?

I have two: 1918 and 2484.

Upgraded your access!
Cheers!

Thank you, it is working now!

May I ask that you also upgrade access for my station 1782.  

Thank you!
T782

Can I jump on the bandwagon as well and request my access to be upgraded as well station 1929

[genewitch]

to answer your headline question:

No.

i use the cheapest GPS stuff i can find. the "radio/decoder" side usually stops working long before the antennas do.

clean the connector with a contact cleaner. Ignore the OM Elmer advice to "just use whisky". IPA, at least 75%, will do.

GPS works indoors if you know where the wires and other metal in your house are.
It just needs a cone straight up to the sky to get a clear enough view of the sky;
maybe 30x30cm with only fiber and oil in the way.

I use an old pizza pan, put the magnetic GPS antenna in the middle.
Put that someplace where i get ~11ns absolute (0.1ns current) on gps fix

No issues with noname brand gps antennas with the system blue i have. <3

[mwaters]

to answer your headline question:

i use the cheapest GPS stuff i can find. the "radio/decoder" side usually stops working long before the antennas do.

By radio/decoder, does that mean your Blitzortung lightning receiver?